Camera mount for vehicle photographic chambers

ABSTRACT

A camera mount is disclosed. A frame for the camera mount can be coupled to an outer portion of a photographic booth using a registration bolt. The camera mount can comprise an enclosure box, a base for coupling the camera to the enclosure box, and/or a shutter flap coupled to the frame. The frame can comprise a flexible accordion extension.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/432,459, filed Aug. 19, 2021. U.S. application Ser. No. 17/432,459 isa national stage entry of PCT Number PCT/US2020/018602, filed Feb. 19,2020. PCT Number PCT/US2020/018602 claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/807,580 filed 19 Feb. 2019. Thecontents of these applications are hereby incorporated by this referencein their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention in general relates to a system for photographingvehicles; and in particular, to a camera mount enclosure for use with aphoto booth or an enclosable domed structure where an automated processcaptures a series of vehicle images and uploads the captured images to aweb template for display and recordation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Online auto sales and auto auctions have been growing in popularity. Oneof the most popular online auctions to buy vehicles from is eBay™. OneBay Motors™, a user can create an account and put their vehicles up forauction. Other popular websites include cars.com™ Typically, onlinevehicle sales are based solely on images of the vehicle, since the buyeris in a remote location and is unable to view the vehicle in question inperson. Thus, many high quality images are required of the vehicle frommany perspectives to allow a buyer to gain an understanding of a subjectvehicle's condition and appearance. FIGS. 1A and 1B are typicalnon-studio quality vehicle photographs that are used to list vehiclesfor sale. The images shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are of low quality andrequire a dedicated employee to move vehicles and physically move aroundthe subject vehicle to take the pictures. The photographer also has tomanually collate the images, name, and upload the files, which is alabor intensive and time consuming task, considering one photographermay be required to shoot upwards of 75 vehicles a day.

Furthermore, producing high quality images is not only time consuming,but is costly and requires a studio set up. Vehicle images areparticularly hard to obtain without unwanted reflections of thephotographer or the surroundings; however reflection free images arecritical to be able to discern surface imperfections, scratches, anddents on a vehicle surface. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an existingstudio configuration 10 for generating a contrast break line 12 on avehicle with additive lighting. The bottom edge 16 of a light box 14creates the break line 12 between highlight and shadow. FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate an existing studio configuration 20 for generating a contrastbreak line 12 on a vehicle with subtractive lighting. The bounce filllight is a large source and makes a soft reflection in the sheet metal.A gray wall is added to “subtract” the reflection from the lower half ofthe truck to create contrast and shape.

While these studio shots are effective in creating high quality vehicleimages, the studio shots are not amenable to the high throughputrequired for high volume vehicle sales. Thus there is a need to be ableto rapidly produce high quality reflection free images of vehicles frommultiple angles and perspectives.

In order to increase throughput for creating high quality vehicle imagesa drive through photographic tunnel as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.10,063,758 issued Aug. 28, 2018 and a circular dome photographic boothas disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/834,374 filed Dec.7, 2017 both of which are included herein by reference in their entiretyhave been implemented. Both the photographic tunnel and circular domehave a plurality of cameras mounted within the walls for recordingimages of a vehicle that are uploaded to a database that is used togenerate image data from the vehicle positioned in the structure. Thesystems further include a lighting system and a tracking system toactuate one or more of the plurality of cameras and lights in apredetermined sequence and combination based on the position of thevehicle within the circular domed structure.

However there continues to be need for improved camera mountings thatallow for precise positioning and easy change out of camera equipmentmounted to photographic chambers. There is a further need of preventingthe cameras from appearing in reflective surfaces of vehicles beingphotographed within photographic chambers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A number of embodiments can comprise a camera mount. The camera mountcan comprise a frame coupled to an outer portion of a photographic boothwith a registration bolt; an enclosure box coupled to the registrationbolt; and an opening in the outer portion of the photographic booth, theopening providing a field of view into the photographic booth for acamera.

Many embodiments can comprise a method of using a camera mount. Themethod can comprise coupling a frame to an outer portion of aphotographic booth via a registration bolt; coupling an enclosure box tothe registration bolt; and orienting a camera to have a field of viewinto the photographic booth through an opening in the outer portion ofthe photographic booth.

Various embodiments can comprise a method of photographing a vehicle.The method can comprise moving the vehicle into a photographic boothcomprising a camera mount; controlling the camera to capture aphotograph of the vehicle; and moving the vehicle out of thephotographic booth. The camera mount can comprise a frame coupled to anouter portion of the photographic booth with a registration bolt; anenclosure box coupled to the registration bolt; and an opening in theouter portion of the photographic booth, the opening providing a fieldof view into the photographic booth for a camera.

A camera mount is provided for photographing vehicles in a photographicbooth. The mount includes a frame affixed to an outer portion of a wallof the photographic booth with a set of registration bolts, and anenclosure box with a set of guide tracks. The enclosure box is removablyconnected to the set of registration bolts with a base for supporting acamera, the base riding along the set of guide tracks. A shutter flap isattached to the frame, and positioned in or over an aperture in thewall, the aperture providing a field of view for the camera, where theshutter flap is in an open position when the camera is in operation, andis closed otherwise.

A system for photographing vehicles is provided using, the systemincluding one or more camera mounts as disclosed above and that areattached to the walls of a photographic booth. At least one camera,video system, or computing system is used to generate image data from avehicle positioned therein. The system further incudes a lightingsystem, and a tracking system to actuate one or more of a plurality ofcameras, shutter flaps, and lights in a predetermined sequence andcombination based on the position of the vehicle.

A process for photographing a vehicle is provided that includes drivingthe vehicle into the photographic booth equipped with the camera mountsdescribed above, selectively illuminating a first subset of lightsarrayed in the dome, selectively opening a first shutter flap from oneor more shutter flaps positioned in the photographic booth, collecting afirst photograph of a plurality of photographs of the vehicle withillumination from the first subset of lights, and closing the firstshutter flap. The process continues by selectively illuminating a secondsubset of lights arrayed in the dome and opening a second shutter flap,and collecting a second photograph of the plurality of photographs ofthe vehicle with illumination from the second subset of lights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are typical non-studio quality vehicle photographs;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an existing studio configuration forgenerating a contrast break line on a vehicle with additive lighting;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an existing studio configuration forgenerating a contrast break line on a vehicle with subtractive lighting;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a camera mount with a shutter flap inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the camera mount and shutter flap of FIG.4 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the camera mount of FIG. 4 that shows the openand closed positions of the shutter flap in accordance with embodimentsof the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an enclosure box prior to being affixed to aframe both of FIG. 4 , which is shown affixed to a wall of a photo boothwith registration bolts in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 8 illustrates the mounting of a complete camera mounting assemblyto the registration bolts, with an aperture cut in the wall inaccordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 shows an interior side of a wall panel with the shutter flap inan open position in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates movement and positioning of a camera affixed to thebase along guide tracks within the enclosure box in accordance withembodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate typical prior art photographic mountinghardware for use with the base;

FIG. 12 illustrates an inventive camera base that folds up and down, aswell as twists to position the camera;

FIGS. 13A-13E illustrate a series of views of a set of articulating armsthat actuate shutter flap; as the articulating arms move forward theshutter flap is lifted upwards to expose the camera, and as thearticulating arms are moved inward the shutter flap is retracteddownwards to cover the aperture in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a shutter flap that swings sideways to expose anaperture in the wall;

FIG. 15 illustrates an exploded view of the shutter flap of FIG. 14 thatswings sideways to expose the camera aperture in the wall;

FIGS. 16A-16C are a series of detailed views of the shutter flap of FIG.14 showing the motor connected to the shutter flap;

FIGS. 17A-17D are perspective views showing a photographic dome forimplementing embodiments of the inventive camera mount according toembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a series of high quality photographs obtained within thesystem of the dome photographic booth according to embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 19 is a system block diagram of the major components forphotographing vehicles in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates an accordion like modular camera mounting system inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 21 is a photograph showing a projection system in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has utility as a camera mount for automaticallyphotographing vehicles in a photo booth or a circular domed structurewhere an automated process captures a series of vehicle images, anduploads the captured images to a web template for display andrecordation. Embodiments of the inventive camera mount have anadjustable base that supports the camera and provides a range of cameraangles, positions, and tilts as needed. The base is attached to anenclosure box of the camera mount, and the enclosure box attaches to aframe that affixes to an exterior portion of a wall of the photo boothand keeps the camera mounted plumb and square. Embodiments of theinventive camera mount allow for quick camera replacement without theneed to aim the camera. A single backup unit may be installed into anycamera position no matter what tilt or angle the camera is set at. Theuse of multiple cameras in a round photo booth, as disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/834,374 filed Dec. 7, 2017, eliminatesthe need to have a rotating stage for photographing a vehicle frommultiple angles, and increases throughput by up to ten times since thereis no longer a need to wait for turntable rotation past a single camera.Embodiments of the inventive camera mount are equipped with an automatedshutter flap that hides the camera when not in use, and prevents thecamera from appearing in reflective surfaces of the vehicle beingphotographed. Embodiments of the shutter flap blend into the backgroundwalls of the photo booth and prevent the many black holes or camerasthat are in the background from appearing as black spots reflected in avehicle surface.

The images captured in photo booths using embodiments of the inventivecamera mount and shutter flap have controlled reflections from multipleangles and perspectives, and a viewer is able to discern whether thereare surface imperfections, scratches, and dents on a vehicle surface.Reflections are controlled in the circular domed chamber with curvedwalls and a matching contoured door that are covered with a lightscattering sheet material such as a white canvas or gray walls. Inspecific embodiments of the inventive image capture system, the lightingstyle used to illuminate the vehicle within the enclosed circularchamber configuration is a sunset horizon style of lighting, where thelights are hidden below the curved wall that may be gray or white so asto use a sunset style reflection on the vehicle surface throughsubtractive lighting. A sunset style reflection refers to a hot horizonline on the vehicle with a rapid fall off (i.e., a sunset shot). In someinventive embodiments, light reflection from the sheet metal is hiddenin the resulting images through lighting control. For example, in aspecific embodiment the lighting around the dome is controlled in such away to maintain a consistent value of the vehicle's reflection. Duringthe rotation, as the sheet metal becomes more efficient, relative to thecamera position, the lighting is adjusted to compensate. It isappreciated that the light is much stronger at the profile view while ittapers off as it approaches a ¾ or ⅞ view. At these angles the rearlighting in the booth must be dimmer to appear consistent throughout.

It is to be understood that in instances where a range of values areprovided herein, that the range is intended to encompass not only theend point values of the range, but also intermediate values of the rangeas explicitly being included within the range and varying by the lastsignificant figure of the range. By way of example, a recited range offrom 1 to 4 is intended to include 1-2, 1-3, 2-4, 3-4, and 1-4.

Embodiments of the inventive camera mounts used in an enclosablecircular domed photographic booth provide a photography stage withhorizontal lighting that may be configured as subtractive lighting thatutilizes a series of cameras and/or camera groups and associatedlighting elements for multi-camera sequenced photographs of a vehiclefrom various angles when the vehicle is positioned on the stage. In aspecific inventive embodiment the vehicle is positioned on a stationaryphotographic stage and a series of cameras positioned around theperimeter and above the vehicle capture vehicle images in the enclosabledomed photographic booth. Alternatively, in an inventive embodiment thephotographic stage in the enclosable domed structure may rotate thevehicle past a bank of cameras. The use of sequenced and automated imagecapture allows for the rapid image processing of vehicles for auctionsales, dealer records, as well as car condition assessments for rentalagencies, fleet management companies, public safety agencies, municipaland government agencies, etc. A complete set of vehicle images arecollected in between 5 and 90 seconds allowing for high throughputimaging associated with an auto auction or manufacturer. Additionally,in certain inventive embodiments, at least one camera is placed behind ashutter. In still other embodiments, the shutter is color and texturematched such that the shutter when closed visual fades into thebackground. Cameras are placed behind a shutter to hide their reflectionwhen a camera is not currently the active camera.

Embodiments of the inventive enclosable circular domed photographicbooth allow for a complete set of multi perspective high quality vehicleimages to be obtained and recorded into a template or placed in a sharednetwork folder in less than 90 seconds, and in some instances inapproximately 5, 10, or 15 seconds. Thus, once a subject vehicle isphotographed in the inventive enclosable circular domed photographicbooth, the vehicle is available and ready for sale online based on theuploaded images and VIN uploaded information. The rapid processing timeof the inventive enclosable circular domed photographic booth providesimages that are equivalent to existing professional photographic stagingmethods that take several minutes to several hours to obtain a set ofvehicle images. The rapid image processing and recordation of vehiclecondition allows for new business models such as creating virtual orcyber dealerships where a wholesale customer never takes possession of asubject vehicle, and the vehicle is dropped shipped to the end retailcustomer. Photos obtained with the inventive system may be sold alongwith the subject vehicle for use by a purchasing used car retailer, andas it typically takes four days for the buyer to take delivery of thewholesale vehicle, with instant access to the vehicle photos thepurchaser can start advertising the vehicle four days prior tophysically taking possession of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the inventive enclosable domed photographic booth mayutilize radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to identify andrecord vehicles as the vehicles are processed through the system. TheRFID may be related to the vehicle identification number (VIN) of avehicle to be processed. It is further appreciated that additionalidentifiers may be used illustratively including barcodes that relate tothe VIN. Information related to the vehicle, such as vehicle make,model, body style, and color encoded in the VIN may be used toautomatically adjust lighting, the height and/or angle of the gray wallto optimize photographic conditions, as well as camera height, zoom, andcamera placement/position for a subject vehicle to be processed. Throughcontrol of lighting and camera firing sequence, the driver of a vehicleis virtually invisible as a result of being hidden by glass reflection.Further information that may be related to the RFID or barcode mayinclude a dealership setting that may also indicate which dealer thevehicle is being shot for, and incorporate that dealer's specificpreferences such as lighting style, file size and format, number ofphoto shots and angles to be recorded. RFID or bar code information,read manually or automatically may also be used to project text onto thebackground of the shot or overlay text onto the file during processing,such as price, dealer name, vehicle specifications, mileage, etc.

Referring now to the figures, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of aninventive embodiment of a camera mount 30 with a shutter flap 32. Thecamera mount 30 includes a frame 34 which is affixed to an outer portionof a photo booth wall, an enclosure box 44 with a set of guide tracks 42on which a base 40 is free to slide from side to side, and a back cover46 which is removeably attached to the enclosure box 44 and allowsaccess to the enclosed camera 38. FIG. 10 illustrates movement andpositioning of a camera along the guide tracks 42. The camera attachesto the base 40 with typical quick release or standard photographicmounting hardware as shown in FIGS. 11A-11C. It is noted that the thumbscrews in FIG. 11B may be replaced with security or tamper proof screwsor bolts so that an end user cannot change or adjust the position of thecamera. Specific embodiments of the base 40 may be pivoted to raise,lower, and angle the camera 38. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the cameramount 30. FIG. 6 is a side view of the camera mount 30 that shows theopen and closed positions of the shutter flap 32. Ideally the shutterflap should have the same color as the interior walls of the photo boothor dome so as to blend into the background when the shutter flap 32 isin a closed position. For a domed shaped photo booth the shutter flapmay have a tapered or curved shape to match the contour or beveled shapeof the wall.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the enclosure box 44 prior to being affixed tothe frame 34, which is shown affixed to the wall 50 of a photo boothwith registration bolts 36. A motor 48 is also visible for raising andlowering the shutter flap 32. By securing the frame 34 and motor 48 tothe wall 50, the enclosure box 44 and the back cover 46 can be removedwith a minimum of disturbance to the alignment of the shutter flap 44 tothe wall 50. Thus a camera may be services, regardless of operator skilllevel without affecting alignment of the camera upon replacement. Theregistration bolts 36 remain in place with the frame 34. FIG. 8illustrates the mounting of a complete camera mounting assembly 30 tothe registration bolts, with an aperture 52 cut in the wall 50. FIG. 9shows an interior side of a wall panel 50 with the shutter flap 32 in anopen position. In a specific inventive embodiment twenty four of thesepanels make up a dome structure. Two additional flaps 32′ and 32″ areshown in a closed position. In a specific inventive embodiment, theapertures cut in the wall are nine inches by six and a half inches. Theapertures may be water cut with a chamfer, with the cut out pieces ofthe wall being used as the shutter flaps. The seams around the shutterflap should be minimized so that the flaps do not appear in thephotographs being taken from different angles.

FIG. 12 illustrates an inventive camera base 54 that folds up and down,as well as twists to position the camera 38. The inventive camera basemay be adapted to slide on the set of guide tracks 42 within theenclosure box 44.

FIGS. 13A-13E illustrate a set of articulating arms 56 that actuate theshutter flap 32. As the articulating arms 56 move forward the shutterflap 32 is lifted upwards to expose the camera 38, and as thearticulating arms 56 are moved inward the shutter flap 32 is retracteddownwards to cover the aperture 52.

FIG. 14 illustrates a shutter flap 58 that swings sideways to expose acamera aperture in a wall. FIG. 15 illustrates an exploded view of theshutter flap 58 that swings sideways to expose the camera aperture 52′in the wall 50. A motor 60 actuates the shutter flap 58. The motor 60 isaffixed to the frame 34. FIG. 16A shows the shutter flap 58 in a closedposition. FIG. 16B is a cross sectional view of FIG. 16A. FIG. 16C is anexpanded partial view of FIG. 16B showing the motor 60 connected to theshutter flap 58.

An embodiment of the enclosable circular dome photographic booth isshown generally at 70 in FIGS. 17A-17D. The booth 70 is constructed witha frame 72 with a wall panels 50 attached to the frame 72 to form a domeshaped roof 56. In a specific embodiment, a set of thermoformed panelsas shown in FIG. 9 may be attached to the frame 72 to form the innerwalls and photographic background of the dome 70. The dome shaped roof76 and a matching contoured swing door 78 both have a straight, sloped,or angled horizon wall 74 and horizon lighting that in the presentinvention precludes secondary reflections that negatively affect imagequality. The contoured swing door 78 with the horizon wall 74 andhorizon lighting creates a uniform background in front corner camerashots having the entrance 80 in the background thereof. In a specificembodiment swing door 78 may have a hinged connection 82 to frame 72. AnRFID reader, alphanumeric reader, or automatic bar code reader 84 may bemounted at or above the entrance 80 to read the identification tagassociated with a subject vehicle. The driver of the vehicle in someembodiments may have an RFID name tag to track who shot the images or tomonitor productivity. Also mounted at the entrance 80 may be a series ofdriver feedback lights 86 such as red and green lights. In a specificembodiment, a blue light indicates that the booth is ready for a vehicleto accept a vehicle. A green light indicates a successful RFID orbarcode read and drive through. In the event of a bad RFID or barcoderead and the indicator light goes red. Pressure sensor strip 48activates the system when the vehicle tire runs over the sensor strip48. Painted guide strips 90 provide a visual path for the driver toproceed into the booth 70 and onto the stage or platform 92. In aspecific embodiment the platform 92 is stationary with a series ofcameras 38 positioned about the perimeter and top of the enclosablecircular dome photographic booth 70 as shown in the view of FIGS. 17Aand 17B. Alternatively, in an embodiment of the inventive booth 70 theplatform 92 rotates the vehicle relative to single bank of cameras.

Embodiments of the circular domed photographic booth 70 are energyefficient. In terms of power distribution, a similar system should draw200 to 400 amps, however less than 80 amps are typically drawn inoperation of embodiments of the invention. Specially sequenced relaysbring each of the power zones up one at a time thereby stopping high inrush current. A number of power zones ranges from 1 to 20. The lightingsystem typically has between 20 and 100 strobes, while in specificembodiments, between 40 and 80 strobes. These strobes operate at 2-10amps are load balanced so that when each zone fires only a fraction ofthe power load is needed. The system boots up in a fixed sequence forreliability as follows: computer, universal serial bus (USB) extensionpower, and camera power up one at a time, shoot all cameras in definedsequence, check to see if all image files exist (nine files in thepresent embodiment), if yes—run remaining boot up script—if not,restart.

In other inventive embodiments, another script is run, triggering eachcamera in series and each light individually or in groups. These imagesare automatically analyzed to determine if any of the lighting equipmentis not firing. If a group of lights from a specific camera view is readas darker than it should be then each light is in turn fired and eachnew photograph examined to narrow down and pinpoint which lightingfixture is not working. The system then emails a supervisor with areport of the booths condition, actuation counts and percentage ofexpected camera and strobe life left. Included in the report arerecommendations of repairs or maintenance needed as determined byanalyzing the various booth data.

Embodiments of the inventive enclosable dome photographic structure 70employ hidden lighting elements behind a horizon wall or hip wall in theform of a gray wall 50 to create a contrast break on the side of thevehicle with subtractive lighting. The subtractive lighting methodproduces a booth with all bounce lighting and 100% controlledreflections on the vehicle surfaces. No reflections of the light sourcesor of the lighting fixtures themselves show up in the vehicle surfacepaint. Embodiments of the structure booth form a large smooth whiteroom, and then subtracting that white from the reflections using thegray wall for contrast break in reflection. A totally white room wouldmake a subject vehicle look flat and dull with no contrast, and therewould be no accent of the vehicles natural body lines. The inventiveenclosable dome structure employs an innovative continuous 360 degreegray wall or partial 360, or straight sections creating the samecontrast break or hiding direct reflections of the lighting. as shown inFIGS. 4A-4C with the swing door 78 closed, to produce a clean horizonline in the vehicle's reflections at all angles about the perimeter ofthe vehicle. The shape of the structure booth 70 wraps light around thefront and rear of the vehicle while also wrapping the horizon reflectionaround the vehicle, which allows the vehicle to be photographed frommultiple angles and still have the same high end look without the needto adjust the lighting or gray wall for each shot for a given subjectvehicle. A clean top edge of the horizon wall causes a crisp reflectionin the vehicle, and is the break point between highlight and shadow. Theuse of a 360 degree gray wall differs from a typical professional studio(see FIG. 3A) where the “gray wall” is usually a strip of cloth hung ona pole and positioned between the car and the light source, and is onlyused on one side of the car being shot at that time and would bepositioned based on what works for a single camera angle. The gray wallused in embodiments of the invention is unique in the fact that the graywall is a fixed hard structure that is optimized to give the desiredreflection on a full range of vehicle shapes and sizes from multiplecamera angles. Thus while the viewing angle may change, the lightingstyle remains consistent across all viewpoints. The gray wall may bebuilt from materials such as wood, composites, metals, etc., and may bein a fixed position or may be repositionable.

As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B the cameras 38 and lighting are deployedaround the parameter walls of domed photographic booth, square, or oval70. The cameras 38 are secured by the camera mounts 30 as disclosedherein. The cameras 38 are concealed behind shutters (32, 58). Thepositioning of the cameras provide varying perspectives of the vehiclebeing photographed when the vehicle is stationary and not on a rotatingplatform.

Embodiments of the inventive enclosable dome photographic booth may usea curved horizon wall that both has a curved face surface and alsocurves around the front and back of the vehicle. The angle of thehorizon wall provides bounce lighting that provides fill for the lowerpart of the vehicle. It is appreciated that a straight hip wall, a slantwall, or a radius wall are all operative herein. While it would be mucheasier to build the horizon wall as a simple vertical wall or as aslanted wall, the use of a curved face affords the lower part of the carsome bounce fill light while not allowing the light to produce surfacesheen on the wall and back to any of the cameras. If the wall weremerely a slant board some camera angles would pick-up glare that wouldalso show up as undesired reflections in some of the vehicle's surfaces.As light bounces off the curved gray wall surface the light isredirected at many angles and thus never builds up into a sheen, andstill provides bounce light for the lower area of the vehicle. Theradius of curvature of the gray wall panels may be adjusted depending onthe desired lighting effect. In embodiments of the inventive drive-thrustructure booth, the wall is also painted so that the wall matches thefloor color and tone as seen by the cameras. The blending of the wallwith the floor is at the interface between the horizon walls and thefloor of the dome booth. Because the horizon wall is on a differentplane and has a curved surface, the wall actually needs to be paintedone tone lighter than the floor to appear as the same tone to thecameras. The horizon wall structure is also used as a place to mount andconceal the lighting. From the lighting mounted position, the lightsbrighten the upper portion of the dome with soft light and brightlylights the portion of the wall right above its top edge of the gray wallcreating the distinctive sunset like reflection in the vehicles paint.By creating an empty space or white bounce box between the back of thegray wall and the dome wall the strobe heads can be pointed downward sothe light bounces off the floor and then up the wall, whichsignificantly makes the beam of the light wider and gives a softerquality of light, while also dramatically cutting down on the amount ofspace needed between the gray wall and the structure wall. In a specificembodiment, the top of the gray wall is just 20″ away from the structurewall. It is noted that the versatile 360 degree horizon wall conceptwill work equally well in still photography, video, or three-dimensional(3D) rendering.

It is appreciated that computer-generated imagery (CGI) vehiclerendering is also accomplished with lighting angles of the presentinvention. If all the measurements are the same and the lighting valuesare the same then the virtual vehicle would look pretty much the same asa real vehicle in that environment. Even easier would be to shoot ahigh-dynamic-range imaging (HDRI) lighting map from the center of aninventive rotary stage. In simplest terms, a HDRI lighting dome is asphere where the inside has a 360 panoramic image projected upon it andthought of as huge stained glass dome where the glass looks exactly likethe room as viewed from the center of the room and, has an infiniteamount of light being projected through it. When a reflective 3D objectlike a car is placed in that virtual environment, then the reflective 3Dobject will reflect the lighting setup exactly as it would in real life.In this example a series of photographs simulate a virtual room space.

FIG. 18 is a series of high quality photographs obtained within thesystem of the structure booth 70 according to embodiments of theinvention. It is noted that to obtain this advertising quality look in acar photograph would normally take a professional photographer and twoassistants the better part of a day to create these nine angles. Theimages as shown in FIG. 18 were captured and produced in 15 seconds withthe horizon wall lighting technique that give the vehicle a sunset lookthat accents the body shape of the vehicle. It is also noted thatalthough photographers may set up single angles in this style,embodiments of the inventive domed structure booth is the first tocreate the horizon look over 360 degrees of vehicle reflection.

FIG. 19 is a system block diagram 100 of the major components forphotographing vehicles. A central process unit (CPU) 122 coordinates andcontrols the overall operation of the photographing system 100 that maybe operated in the domed structure 70, and the other photographicchambers disclosed above. The communication interface 124 isrepresentative of various links and input connections and devicesillustratively including but not limited to wired and wireless links,optical drives, universal serial bus (USB), flash memory slot, andcombinations thereof, for receiving and sending data that may or may notbe in real time. The bus 102 links the various components in the system.Memory 116 serves as storage for operating programs and firmware for thephotographic system 100. A database with vehicle and client informationis stored in Memory 116. Memory 116 is made up of read-only memory ROMand random access memory (RAM). Graphics chipset 120 drives a display118. The display 118 may be liquid crystal display (LCD), light emittingdiode (LED), or other known display technologies. Control interface 106may include knobs, buttons, and other touch sensitive controls forselecting various menu items or for inputting alphanumeric information.Sensors 104 sense the presence of a vehicle and the vehicle position.RFID/barcode 108 is a reader that detects and interprets tags mounted tovehicles or driver identification (ID) cards. Cameras 110 and lighting114 are controlled and sequenced by the CPU 122. Indicators 112 providevisual feedback to system users. In inventive embodiments, the centralprocess unit (CPU) 122, or master and node computers, in the case ofmany cameras in use—these processing nodes speedup download and systemthroughput, and the CPU 122 coordinates and controls the plurality ofcameras in the circular domed structure 30. In specific inventiveembodiments, a communication interface connects the plurality of camerasvia one or more of wired and wireless links, optical drives, universalserial bus (USB), flash memory slot, and combinations thereof forreceiving and sending data.

FIG. 20 illustrates a modular camera mounting system 130 that allows theinstaller of a photographic booth illustratively including the domedstructure 70 to set the angle and tilt of each camera 38, and thenallows untrained operators to swap out cameras 38 without the need torearm the cameras. The modular camera mounting system 130 has a flexibleaccordion extension 134 that locks into a frame 132 installed in thepanel wall 50 of the photographic booth. The camera 38 is mounted squareand plumb in a camera and electronics module or enclosure box 136 thatattaches to the accordion extension 134. The module or enclosure box 136may also have lighting elements. The accordion extension 134 allows thecamera module or enclosure box 136 to pan and tilt and may be locked inposition during installation, and this allows camera modules orenclosures 136 to be swapped out without the need to be re-aimed.

FIG. 21 is a photograph showing a projection system display 150. In aspecific inventive embodiment the projection system display 150 isprojected on to the wall 50 of the photographic chamber, and providesthe view from the top down camera to aid a driver in centering a vehiclein the photographic chamber. The projection system may also be used inconjunction with the vehicle data base to show a photographer step bystep which interior and details photos that are needed for that vehicle.For example, a sample graphic or photograph of the next shot needed isprojected along with notes on which lighting preset to use, Furthermore,the projection may provide consistency reminders like “straighten thesteering wheel”. The projection system may also display a running clockor countdown clock to keep the photographer moving according to thefacilities production schedule. If what is being projected is also beingrecorded, the operator's performance can be evaluated against thedirection given by the automated system. It is noted that since theflash units for the image taking cameras are so much brighter than theprojected image, the projection image is washed out and never shows upin the photographs.

As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detaileddescription and from the figures and claims, modifications and changescan be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention defined in the followingclaims.

1. A camera mount comprising: a frame coupled to an outer portion of aphotographic booth with a registration bolt; an enclosure box coupled tothe registration bolt; and an opening in the outer portion of thephotographic booth, the opening providing a field of view into thephotographic booth for a camera.
 2. The camera mount of claim 1 furthercomprising a base for coupling the camera to the enclosure box.
 3. Thecamera mount of claim 2, wherein the enclosure box further comprises aguide track configured to slidably receive the base.
 4. The camera mountof claim 1, further comprising a shutter flap coupled to the frame andconfigured to occlude the field of view for the camera when the shutterflap is in a closed position.
 5. The camera mount of claim 4, whereinthe shutter flap is a same color as an interior portion of thephotographic booth and blends in with the interior portion of thephotographic booth in an image of an object in the photographic booth.6. The camera mount of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a flexibleaccordion extension.
 7. The camera mount of claim 1, wherein thephotographic booth comprises a domed structure.
 8. A method of using acamera mount, the method comprising: coupling a frame to an outerportion of a photographic booth via a registration bolt; coupling anenclosure box to the registration bolt; and orienting a camera to have afield of view into the photographic booth through an opening in theouter portion of the photographic booth.
 9. The method of claim 8further comprising coupling the camera to the enclosure box via a base.10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coupling the camera comprisesslidably coupling the base to a guide track coupled to the enclosurebox.
 11. The method of claim 8 further comprising opening a shutter flapcoupled to the frame and configured to occlude the field of view for thecamera when the shutter flap is in a closed position.
 12. The method ofclaim 11 further comprising using a second camera to take an image of anobject in the photographic booth, wherein the shutter flap is a samecolor as an interior portion of the photographic booth and blends inwith the interior portion of the photographic booth in the image. 13.The method of claim 8 further comprising extending or collapsing aflexible accordion extension coupled to the frame.
 14. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the coupling the frame comprises coupling the frame tothe outer portion of the photographic booth comprising a domed structurevia the registration bolt.
 15. A method of photographing a vehiclecomprising: moving the vehicle into a photographic booth comprising acamera mount comprising: a frame coupled to an outer portion of thephotographic booth with a registration bolt; an enclosure box coupled tothe registration bolt; and an opening in the outer portion of thephotographic booth, the opening providing a field of view into thephotographic booth for a camera; controlling the camera to capture aphotograph of the vehicle; and moving the vehicle out of thephotographic booth.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the camera mountfurther comprises a base for coupling the camera to the enclosure box.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the enclosure box further comprisesa guide track configured to slidably receive the base.
 18. The method ofclaim 15 further comprising opening a shutter flap coupled to the frameand configured to occlude the field of view for the camera when theshutter flap is in a closed position.
 19. The method of claim 15 furthercomprising extending or collapsing a flexible accordion extensioncoupled to the frame.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein thephotographic booth comprises a domed structure.